Category Archives: Big League Ready

We are nearing the end of the minor league season now and as we all start thinking intensely about next year, I think it’s useful to take a look at what has and has not been said about the various young players. This may tell us something about what to expect next year. In the … Continue reading →

Jesse Winker, you may have noticed, is finally getting some playing time in the big leagues. Through his first 70-odd plate appearances, he’s been more or less a league average hitter. He’s also been above average at getting on base, even though his batting average isn’t great. That’s right, kids. Jesse Winker can take a … Continue reading →

Lately, it seems to me that every post discussing the lack of success of many of the Reds’ young pitchers is accompanied by some number of comments about the players being “rushed” because of need at the big league level. This didn’t match my perception. My perception was that these guys were making debuts roughly … Continue reading →

As I’ve sporadically written this column over the course of the season, various players have seen their stock rise and fall. I sat down to write this column and realized that, suddenly, the picture is a lot clearer. And that we need to add a few names to the list. So here we go, let’s … Continue reading →

Come back with me, if you will, to a moment in the not-so-distant past. The Reds had a couple of hotshot starters in Louisville and a few more in Pensacola. We were waiting to see who would make the leap to the big leagues and who wouldn’t quite cut it. I know, I know it’s … Continue reading →

This year was to be the year of sorting. Some would rise. Others would fall. In the end, a balanced team would be born. Uh… Yeah, about that. A funny thing happened on the way to being competitive. This team is lopsided. In some places, things have gone much better than expected. In other places… … Continue reading →

Back in the misty half-forgotten time of early April when this little column began, the premise was that I would focus on a particular group of guys who were trying to transition across the line from prospect to big leaguer. There was one player I didn’t include in the group and maybe I should have. … Continue reading →